Music At Paxton Artistic Director Helen Jamieson Steps Down

Artistic Director Helen Jamieson has announced that she is to step down from her role at Music at Paxton in September 2018, at the end of the Festival's 13th year.

As a Consultant, Helen helped to found Music at Paxton in 2005/6 and under her artistic leadership the festival has grown to a ten-day summer festival and welcomed International Artists to the Scottish Borders such as Steven Osborne, Alina Ibragimova and Cedric Tiberghien, who have become regular visitors to the village of Paxton.

Formerly a Music Officer with the Scottish Arts Council (now Creative Scotland), Helen's freelance work has involved the creation of a week-long international chamber music summer school and project management and consultancy with a variety of music organisations in the UK and further afield.

Helen Jamieson said: "I am immensely proud of what we have achieved as a small team with a passion for chamber music. For me, nothing can beat the thrill of hearing world class musicians up close in an intimate setting like Paxton House."

The formal process of appointing a new Artist Director has begun. The Board seeks a self-motivated freelance Artist Director to provide artistic vision for the organisation and plan the programme for the 2019 Festival and beyond.

Established in 2006, Music at Paxton is a charitable organisation which produces an international summer festival of chamber music each July in the house and grounds of Paxton House on the banks of the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders.

Music at Paxton aims to bring world-class chamber music to the rural communities of the Scottish Borders, share its passion for classical chamber music and the thrill of live performance in a beautiful and intimate venue and be accessible to the widest audiences, ensuring people of all ages and backgrounds feel welcome.

The Artistic Director will need to work closely with the General Manager throughout the year to achieve the objectives of the charity. They will be supported by the Board of Directors. The deadline for applications is Friday 16 February 2018 at 5.00pm. A full job description and details on the application process can be found at www.musicatpaxton.co.uk.

Music at Paxton was formed in 2006 and from modest beginnings has grown into a key event on the UK chamber music circuit. Music at Paxton is a limited company and a registered charity, aiming to bring high quality music to the Eastern Scottish Borders, an area not currently well served with classical music. The Festival is committed to breaking down barriers and encourages young people to attend through generous concessions and free events. Through the Festival's partnership with Live Music Now Scotland, a series of concerts will be given in care homes and residential centres around the time of the Festival by Live Music Now musicians. Details from Live Music Now Scotland - tel. 0131 332 6356. Paxton House lies on the Border between Scotland and England (the House is bordered by the Tweed) and the audience is split between the two countries.